Our favorite moments of #SusanLTaylorDay

The Leadership Lectures, presented by the FIU Center for Leadership, and in partnership with Mercantil Commercebank, had a stellar launch to their 2016-2017 season with more than 250 guests attending. Since 2009, The Center has featured world-class, accomplished and influential leaders with expertise ranging from business and philanthropy to public service and academic research- that is, the people who deliver results! Kicking off the 2016-2017 season last week was none other than Susan L. Taylor, Editor Emerita of Essence Magazine and CEO and Founder of National CARES Mentoring Movement- it quickly became a day of all-things positive, inspiration, and, of course, very Susan L. Taylor. We like to refer to October 4 as #SusanLTaylorDay.

Leyanis Diaz (the current Miss Black Florida USA) and Susan L. Taylor

Leyanis Diaz, the current Miss Black Florida USA, attended the lecture. Diaz recalls how Susan L. Taylor captured her through her stories. “Susan L. Taylor is a phenomenal woman; she is a leader, a mentor, and a visionary. During her lecture, Ms. Taylor emphasized that passionate and effective leadership starts from within — with self-awareness — because one cannot lead without first knowing who one is. Throughout my journey as Miss Black Florida USA, I hope to become a more effective, more self-aware leader, guiding and mentoring others from within.”

Susan L. Taylor spoke of her start at Essence Magazine and how she wrote with a purpose. That purpose: to let her audience know that through a positive outlook, we are able to see beauty in all things. A favorite quote from the event was one that will forever stay with all of those who attended:

“Gratitude makes everything you have more than enough.”

Did you miss #SusanLTaylorDay?

Register for our next lectures by clicking here, share your #SusanLTaylorDay memory on social media, or tell us who we should invite for our future lectures. If you are looking for more content from #SusanLTaylorday, view the photo gallery of the event and check out the video below that features our digital story of #SusanLTaylorDay.